New Jersey has finished implementing the Nurse Licensure Compact (NLC), allowing registered nurses and licensed practical/vocational nurses whose primary residence falls within an NLC state to hold one multistate license. This grants them the authority to practice in person or via telehealth in both their home state and other NLC states. Once a nurse is issued a multistate license, the nurse may stop renewing any license held in another NLC state. Read the NLC’s full press release on GlobeNewswire.

Lawmakers in Massachusetts told NBC10 Boston they have to “do a better job of being a watchdog” after an investigative series, To Catch a Contractor, revealed that homemakers were dishing out dollars for big renovations and pools only to be left with gaping holes and unfinished jobs by a licensed contractor. Despite the fact the contractor under investigation has criminal histories in Rhode Island and Connecticut, owing money to multiple residents in those states, he retains an active home improvement contractor registration in Massachusetts. Check out the full story here.

A newly introduced Mutual Recognition Amendment Bill in Western Australia would allow individuals registered or licensed for an occupation in another jurisdiction to do the same work in the state without additional fees or recognitions. “This scheme will make it easier for interstate registered or licensed workers to work in Western Australia and aligns with outcomes from my government’s Skills Summit to help Western Australian businesses recruit employees,” explained Premier Mark McGowan. Read more here.

Those applying to become licensed massage therapists are frustrated over “turmoil” at the Louisiana Board of Massage Therapy that has stalled the licensing process, according to the panel’s new chairwoman. “There are people ticked off now because they applied for licensing,” said Baton Rouge’s Kathie Lea, who has been a licensed therapist for 35 years. According to The Advocate, the industry’s state oversight turned chaotic following the resignation of the board’s longtime executive director, which was followed by the departure of the chairwoman and three others.

The huge cyberattack plaguing Newfoundland and Labrador’s health care system underlines the need to protect personal health information according to experts. “I think that we’re about 10 years behind in looking at this in a very sophisticated way,” Paul-Emile Cloutier, president and CEO of HealthCareCAN, told CBC News in an interview, adding “I think we need to put a lot of attention (on it), and it needs to be done immediately.” Cyberattacks targeting Canadian health care providers have been increasing in frequency in recent years and won’t likely decrease in the future, Cloutier noted. Southern Ohio Medical Center in Portsmouth, Ohio, is also dealing with a cyberattack a week after it was forced into electronic health record (EHR) downtime procedures.

Also noteworthy:

• Could a law school diploma stand in for the bar exam? Check out this podcast on Bloomberg Law.
• Some states haven’t adapted to licensing realities despite the pandemic, a guest columnist argues in The Gainesville Sun.
• Does occupational licensing limit economic mobility for low-income Louisianans? Pelican Institute CEO Daniel Erspamer thinks so.

Got a news tip? Write us at editor@ascend.thentia.com.